Southern California - How to handle the heat?

Hey y'all,

I live in the Santa Clarita Valley, and we are already having days up to 107 degrees! If it's anything like the past two years we will break 110 on a regular basis. I am struggling to motivate myself to bike on days like these (especially when I am biking to a job where I have to dance around in the heat for hours). Any tips on how to handle how hot it is? I really want to keep biking throughout the summer, but it's starting to seem downright unhealthy.

(P.S. Sorry if this topic is already around somewhere, I did a search and didn't find anything particularly helpful. Thanks!)

1. bike in the morning
2. bike up in the mountains
3. hydrate, hydrate, hydrate

For one, buy yourself some Polar insulated bottles. I had one filled with ice water for a race on Saturday in 100 degree heat, and I can honestly say that thing kept me in the race. I only used it to douse myself when I started to overheat.

Also, try finding a polyester hat that you can wear under your helmet. As long as you keep it wet and keep air flowing over it, it's like having AC for your head. Of course, once the temps get above a certain level, nothing will keep you from feeling miserable.

Oh, and just to clarify, I'm talking about using my bike to commute, so I don't have a choice in terms of time I bike or where I bike. But thanks for the tips TJ! I'll be sure to follow them on days I'm not working or going to class.

Also in the SCV - way too hot up here! Good news is the temp is supposed to drop through the week. Hopefully it stays like that for a while.

Chris

1. bike in the morning or late afternoon.
2. bike up in the mountains or at the coast
3. hydrate, hydrate, hydrateAdded

Did you race the La Mirada GP on Saturday?. I heard the heat was unbearable...

Did you race the La Mirada GP on Saturday?. I heard the heat was unbearable...

I did. It was bad.

Did you race the La Mirada GP on Saturday?. I heard the heat was unbearable...

I think I'm still dehydrated from those races, and I must have gone through 2 gallons of water per day.

Aside from having water and the right clothing, I find the best advice to be, slow down, especially on any hills. The faster you go the more energy expended and the hotter and sweatier you will become. By slowing down I can get places while barely breaking a sweat. If I go my normal speed, I am a dripping mess. So when it is hot, I slow down.

Even if I slow down I'm still a dripping mess.... :D

1. bike in the morning
2. bike up in the mountains
3. hydrate, hydrate, hydrate

When its this hot, do you stick to just ice water, or the usual Gu2O/Gatorade/etc drink mix?

Even if I slow down I'm still a dripping mess.... :D

go slower ;-)

seriously.

I was going to ride up to Camp 9 yesterday. It got as high as 112 degrees going up Little T from Sand Canyon. That was too much for me and the asthma didin't help.

I have to wear one of those head sweat caps to prevent some pretty weird pattern sunburns through my helmet. I found if I wet it down every 15 minutes or so, it really helps. Electrolytes in your water or in pill form are very important if you ride some distance. I like NUUN tablets in my water myself.

OK NOBODY listen to my advise uless you're crazy like me.

1. get a pair of socks, and a shirt
2. wet them and put them in the freezer the day before
3. put them frozen garmets in a bag and take them with you on your super hot ride
4. when you are crying for coolness take one of them out and put them on. they should be thawed out.
5. freeze and beg for more heat

dont forget the sunscreen on the back of the neck and the polar thing for the water seems interesting. I just freeze it and by the time I need it its already liquid but cold as heck.

Oh, and just to clarify, I'm talking about using my bike to commute, so I don't have a choice in terms of time I bike or where I bike. But thanks for the tips TJ! I'll be sure to follow them on days I'm not working or going to class.

Can you commute early?

Also, try finding a polyester hat that you can wear under your helmet. As long as you keep it wet and keep air flowing over it, it's like having AC for your head. Of course, once the temps get above a certain level, nothing will keep you from feeling miserable.

I used to wear cotton bandanas on my head. I found one in the drawer and wore it last weekend. Big mistake. I rode 4.5 miles to a meet up point and the bandana had already soaked through and sweat was dripping onto my sunglasses. Polyester Headsweats brand skull caps and cycling hats are worth the expense.

Try take your helmet off.:eek:

Bike faster the wind will cool you down. hah.

Thanks for all the tips everyone!! I'll definitely use some of those this week.
Garfield Cat: Although the morning isn't bad (I leave around 7:15 am for class at 8 am), I can't change the afternoon commute time when I go from class (out at 11) to work (starting at 12). After that I bike to soccer camp around 4:30/5:30 so that isn't too bad either, it's just that middle of the day ride that's killing. The weather this past week was much nicer though, so that helped!